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Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) logo
Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC)
United States · Tier 2 Trusted
USDA Organic logo
USDA Organic
United States · Tier 1 Gold
Nordic Swan Ecolabel logo
Nordic Swan Ecolabel
Nordic Countries · Tier 3 Specialty
What it meansA 'beyond organic' standard developed by the Regenerative Organic Alliance (Patagonia, Rodale Institute, Dr. Bronner's, others). Built on top of USDA Organic; adds soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness pillars.The US Department of Agriculture's national organic standard. The green-and-white seal is the legal mark for any food sold as 'organic' in the United States.The official environmental label of the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland). Covers ~60 product categories from cleaning products to hotels — NOT specifically an organic standard.
ScopeSeveral categoriesFoodSeveral categories
Established201820021989
InspectionAnnual on-site by ROA-accredited certifierAnnual on-site by USDA-accredited certifierOn-site + product review by national Ecolabel office
Residue testingPer USDA NOPRequired on ≥5% of operations annuallyRisk-based per category
Guarantees
  • USDA Organic baseline (or equivalent) is a prerequisite.
  • Soil health: cover cropping, no-till or reduced-till, conservation crop rotation, compost.
  • Animal welfare: pasture-based, Five Freedoms, prohibits factory-farm conditions.
  • Social fairness: living wage, freedom of association, safe workplace, no forced or child labour.
  • Three tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold based on adoption depth.
  • At least 95% of ingredients are certified organic (the '100% Organic' variant requires every ingredient).
  • No synthetic pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, no GMOs, no sewage sludge, no irradiation.
  • Annual on-site inspection by a USDA-accredited certifier.
  • Residue testing on at least 5% of certified operations each year.
  • Lifecycle-based environmental criteria for the product category.
  • Restrictions on hazardous chemicals.
  • Recyclability and packaging requirements.
  • Audited every 3-5 years against an updated standard.
Does NOT
  • Newer label (2018+) — supply still limited, mostly US brands.
  • Doesn't certify nutrition, taste, or animal welfare specifically (separate marks like AWA cover welfare).
  • Doesn't guarantee local production — a 'USDA Organic' product can be grown anywhere with an accredited inspector.
  • Doesn't certify food as organic — Nordic Swan on a food package means lower-environmental-impact, not 'no synthetic pesticides'.

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